GAME REPORT

Polkowice Grind Out Much Needed Win

Belinda Snell took CCC Polkowice on her back, scoring 16 all-important points in the win

It wasn't exactly pretty, but that won't matter to Jacek Winnick and CCC Polkowice after the Polish champions claimed a first EuroLeague Women win of the season with a 62-53 success against Novi Zagreb.

Something had to give when both teams headed into the game with a combined four losses between them in Group C.

And, the pressure was certainly on the misfiring hosts to deliver, something heightened even further when they fell behind early as the Croatian visitors moved 18-13 ahead.

But, once the home team settled down, they were able to engage in an intense struggle with neither side able to make any kind of decisive break.

The dangerous Milica Dabovic did everything in her power to take Novi Zagreb to a winning position and was the standout player in the game with 22 points, but she lacked the necessary support in the scoring stakes.

It was the defence of CCC Polkowice which proved to be their true saviour, managing to stifle the Novi Zagreb offence in the last ten minutes and holding it to just eight points.

Even if the hosts never found any true offensive rhythm, it was enough to prevail and especially with a season high six blocks from Agnieszka Majewska.

COACH QUOTES

Quotes CCC Polkowice vs. Novi Zagreb

WBC Novi Zagreb head coach Vladimir Ivankovic"I am very disappointed with my team. I'm disappointed not about the loss, but the style, the lack of will to fight in the second half. I cannot forgive my players. I think CCC wanted to win this game more than my team. We need to focus on preparing for the next match in the Central European League. In Euroleague every week we are playing a game that we must win if we want to think about promotion to the second round."

CCC Polkowice coach Jacek Winnicki"We won this game by the will to fight and determination. We played well on defence, we had only 14 turnovers. In the second half we gave up only 17 points, which is also very important. We are happy because this match was very important for us. I congratulate my players."

WBC Novi Zagreb player Milica Dabovic"It was a very difficult and tough game. Maybe we did not want to win as much as CCC Polkowice, but we gave it everything. CCC is a very experienced team, we have young players in the roster. We play better from match to match and I am pleased with the play of our team. We will try to play better in the next match."

CCC Polkowice player Belinda Snell"I am very happy with the first win in the EuroLeague . It was for us a very important game. In the first half, we did not know how to stop Milica Dabovic. We played better in the second on defence, Aga Majewska had some important blocks. I'm happy."